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Asbestos Exposure & the Military: Merchant Marines

The United States Maritime Commission consists of U.S.-built, owned, flagged, and crewed vessels. As of 2006, the total number of American Merchant Marine ships was 465, which are manned by approximately 69,000 sailors. The four top categories are cargo ships, bulk ships, container ships, and petroleum tanker ships, followed by passenger/cargo, vehicle carriers, chemical tankers and other miscellaneous vessels. Merchant ships can be maintained by private individuals or the government, but all are used to transport goods and services to and from U.S. waters. This civilian "fleet" is considered a Navy auxiliary during wartime, and, as such, may be ordered to also transport military supplies or troops. In addition to the major types of vessels considered as merchant ships, there are towboats, dredges, ferries, and tugboats. Merchant Marines sail on rivers, harbors, canals, and the Great Lakes, in addition to the oceans and seas. The Military Sealift Command fleet serves the entire Department of Defense, and transports up to 95% of needed military supplies; Merchant Marine ships in this category total over 200. The National Defense Reserve Fleet handles cargo ships that are required for national emergencies, and consists of 251other Merchant Marine vessels.

Operation

Those who operate ships are termed Merchant Mariners; officers are commissioned into the United States Maritime Service and those who serve in wars are considered U.S. Veterans. Just as in the Navy, a Merchant Ship is operated by a captain, mates, and a crew, and official logs and records are required for cargo transportation and delivery, procedures, movements and adherence to laws.

Like official Navy vessels, sea men stand watch, mates supervise the crew, and experienced pilots or harbor pilots guide ships in or out of ports. Ship engineers are responsible for the maintenance and operation of all machinery, while ordinary seamen have routine maintenance chores such as measuring water depth and overseeing the use of deck equipment. Pump men operate hoses and clean tanks, as well as controlling mooring lines. Plus, just as in the Navy, there are professionals trained specifically in the vessel's operation below decks to ensure that equipment is in proper working condition and data such as pressure and temperature is continuously analyzed.

Contributions

Begun 200 years ago as a way for the colonies to trade with Europe, Merchant Marines have been taking an active role in recent military operations. During the Korean War, Merchant Marine ships numbered 255, and in the Vietnam War, civilian ships carried 95% of the supplies used by the American Armed Forces. The first Gulf War saw merchant ships transport over 11 million tons of supplies (fuel, vehicles, ammunition, helicopters, and equipment). Merchant Marines of the Ready Reserve Fleet contributed to Operation Desert Shield/Operation Desert Storm by carrying 25% of the equipment and 45% of the ammunition, and some civilian mariners were awarded the Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal for their assistance during the Iraq War. Other mariners took part in troop transport for Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, provided humanitarian assistance in Central America after Hurricane Mitch, and sea-lifted equipment for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Merchant Marines also support U.S. and U.K. NATO peace-keeping missions and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, like they did after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

The Future

Although the Merchant Marines carried approximately 43 % of the world's shipping trade after World War II, 50 years later it was responsible for only 4%. Ship count was reduced from more than 2,000 in the 1940s to less than one quarter of that amount today. The pool of qualified sailors has been drastically reduced, and it is estimated that over 40% of vessels employ unlicensed personnel. The lack of Merchant Marines is considered "critical", especially since it has become accepted practice for mariners to be hired by foreign vessels. It is indeed unfortunate that such a valuable resource is slowly diminishing, regardless of its successful history. Based on the Seamen's Act and the Merchant Marine's Act, regulations were in place to insure fair, safe and uniform treatment for sailors operating on all vessels, in conjunction with international laws of standard operating procedures. Most laws were focused on working conditions and nautical safety; not surprisingly, little consideration was given to environmental risks. This would have included many conditions, not the least of which would have been exposure to asbestos.

During the 1940's and 1950's, it was common practice to use asbestos as an added insulation in boats. The material seemed ideal as an extra precaution against a situation that needed to be prevented at any cost. An onboard fire would be bad enough while delivering supplies for the war effort, but limited resources and escape routes could mean death for everyone. Asbestos, with its ability to fit into any small or awkward space without adding any weight to the ship, seemed the answer for heat regulation and protection against flame and electrical fires.

However, if the asbestos sealant became damaged and asbestos fibers were released into the air system, they could have drifted anywhere on board. If asbestos was inadvertently inhaled or swallowed, it may have remained inside a sailor's body for decades, since its structure often causes it to become embedded in human tissue. Such containment within lung or stomach linings could cause reactions that result in serious conditions, including lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma, as well as other types of cancers. Asbestos diseases' long latency periods means that only now are symptoms beginning to appear. It is therefore very important that Merchant Mariners who notice unusual physical conditions visit their health professional, and then contact us for additional information.

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